Sinful Secrets of Valletta – Blood, Booty and Courtesans

Embark on an adventure where survival, brutality, and desire collide, revealing the darker side of Valletta. Hear of tales risk takers, misery maximized for gold, love gone terribly wrong, exotic delicacies with a shocking past and much more. on our Valletta Walking Tour

Original Price:

€20.00

Discounted Price:

€15.00

Bookings are closed for this event.

Duration: 2 hours
Ending Location: Lower Barrakka Garden, Valletta
What to wear: Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Guide: Licensed tourist guide in authentic Maltese 17th century costume
Language: English

Tour Highlights

Valletta’s Sinful Streets: Explore Valletta, one of UNESCO’s naughtiest World Heritage Cities and top Malta sightseeing places, tracing the dark footsteps of the legendary Corsairs during the Knights of St John period.

Scandalous Stories: Entertain yourself in tales of audacious plunder, unrestrained desires, and ingenious schemes that will make your lawyer blush and your history teacher weep.

Dark Secrets: Learn why “going to Malta for business” was the 17th century’s equivalent of a Vegas trip. As you climb the ladder, find out how deep this rabbit hole goes. You’ll be surprised, hopefully not too shocked!

Immersive and animated Storytelling: Step into the shoes of a struggling Valletta resident and see history through their eyes as your costumed guide helps you escape poverty through Malta turning “finders keepers” into an economic policy (don’t try this at home).

Hidden Havens:Explore hidden off beaten paths such as the fabulous East street and the less visited but equally magnificent Lower Barrakka Garden, with its jaw-dropping views of our Grand Harbour ,that are Instagram gold (No filter needed) and will make your social media light up with jealous comments on one of the best Malta Tours!!

Location Highlights

Auberge de Castille
St. James Cavallier
De Valette Statue
Auberge D’Italie
Merchant Street
Castellania
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Banca Giuratale
Grand Master’s Palace – back entrance
Valletta Food Market
Oratory of the Jesuits
St. Ursula Church and Monastery
East Street
Lower Barrakka Garden with epic views of the Grand Harbour

Please Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes. • A hat in summer (although the streets will be mostly shaded and shaded areas available). • Warm clothes in winter as Valletta can be chilly.

What's included?

Professional Maltese Tour Guide, in authentic corsair costume portraying a real 17th century character to better tell this remarkable story.

What's not included?

Entry to buildings is not included. Food or drinks not included.

Requirements for Participation:

Participants must be 14 years old with parental guidance or above due to adult content involving prostitution, adultery, and violence

Group Size:

Our tours typically have a small group size of maximum 35 to ensure a personalized experience.

Weather Cancellations:

The tour will ONLY be cancelled in case of extreme weather conditions.

What if it rains?

Unless there is extreme rainfall, the tour will still happen if it’s light rain or a drizzle Rest assured some rain does NOT count as extreme weather conditions, so make sure you can swim :) If the tour is cancelled, we will notify you beforehand and refund your order. We will always prioritize the safety and comfort of our clients first. If it’s raining and you don’t hear from us, it means tour is still on so sharpen your daggers and also and umbrellas :)

How do I book?

Easy, at the very top, is the Tickets option. Just select the number of tickets you need and press “Submit Booking” red button and take it from there.

What if I need to cancel or change my booking?

Cancellations or change of bookings are only allowed if received via email notification on [email protected] at least 24 hours before the tour commences.

Is the tour safe?

Our tours are designed to be safe and enjoyable for all clients. We prioritise safety above all else and work with experienced guides and tour operators to ensure that all activities are conducted safely. We advise to bring good walking shoes, due to steps going down heading towards the Barrakka Gardens

Accessibility / Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is on even paved ground. However, some steps must be tackled to head towards the panoramic views.

How many stops does the tour feature?

The tour includes around 17 stops.

Does the tour ever change?

The route, sights, and topics may vary slightly depending on weather , noise , events and any building works.

How much walking is involved?

Approximately half an hour of walking is involved. The path is an easy one, flat ground and always heading downwards where steps are involved to our last few gems such as East Street and the Lower Barrakka Garden with Epic views of the Grand Harbour Also pushchair friendly

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, ALL tours MUST be booked in advanced.

Is parking available?

The meeting place is less than 10 minutes away from a public car park and the bus stop is less than 10 minutes’ walk away. Our Starting Location being Auberge De Castille is extremely easy to find and convenient whether your coming via cruise liner and exiting from the Upper Barrakka Garden ( less the 1 minute) or coming through Valletta Main Gate ( approx 5mins walk time from the main gate)

Are bathrooms available during the tour?

A Public Bathroom available close to the meeting place. (UPPER Barrakka Garden) A Second Public bathroom is available at the end of the tour. (LOWER Barrakka Garden) Kindly note at times opening hours of the Public Toilets may vary according to the to cleaners on duty In case of emergencies there are plenty of Cafes, restaurants close by with a tiolet

Are tours offered only in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Should I tip my guide?

Although much appreciated, it is solely up to you to decide whether or not to tip your tour guide.

What if I still have questions?

Just email us on [email protected] and we will be glad to help out.

At what time should I be there?

Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in with your guide. We will start sharp on the mentioned time, to respect the other guests plans and time constraints Also plan ahead for traffic to reach Valletta , since it’s our capital city

★★★★★ 5/5

"Our guide really nailed it. He arrived dressed as a corsair and stayed in character throughout his entire "performance". Using a first-person story-telling style, he brought us back in time to actually feel the history. This tour checked every box - it was entertaining, informative, and memorable. I highly recommend them!"

Tour Details

Overview

The Spicy Secrets of Valletta‘s Corsairs Await. Uncover the hidden chapters of Malta’s maritime legacy during the Knights’ period, as you journey back in time through an action-packed adventure of survival, torture, and promiscuity gone wild on this Valletta Walking tour. As you visit Valletta tourist attractions prepare to be enthralled as you delve into the captivating and colorful lives of Valletta’s legendary Corsairs, feared protectors of Malta’s shores.

Our tales may rival Hollywood, but these are real-life adventures that will leave you breathless. From forbidden love affairs to daring escapes and exotic worldwide delicacies with a violent past, our expert guides will bring Malta’s rich history to life in a thrilling and engaging manner .

Who were the Corsairs of Malta? Why were they indispensable to the Knights of St John? Heroes or villains? How you would become a licensed corsair and rise through the ranks? Discover why these legendary figures were hailed as protectors by everyday Maltese people yet despised by the feared Holy Roman Inquisition! Learn why even an angry Pope is forced to get involved.

Embark on a unique maritime cultural voyage as we traverse the historic streets and buildings of Valletta, where each location holds a piece of Malta’s raw and captivating history, echoing with cryptic and politically incorrect sayings and customs from this devious past.

Don’t miss our top rated Valletta walking tour to explore the streets that whisper untold tales of valor and an equal amount of immense suffering, as we together unravel the dark secrets of Valletta where you literally “Get Rich or Die Trying!” as every one of our Valletta tourist attractions reveal thrilling and at times…terrible tales!

Tour Theme

Daring to Dream – Freedom vs Responsibility – Brotherhood and Loyalty – Risk-Taking and Adventure – Consequences of Greed – Ethics of Piracy – Profit through misery – Search for Love

Location Highlights

Auberge de Castille
St. James Cavallier
De Valette Statue
Auberge D’Italie
Merchant Street
Castellania
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Banca Giuratale
Grand Master’s Palace – back entrance
Valletta Food Market
Oratory of the Jesuits
St. Ursula Church and Monastery
East Street
Lower Barrakka Garden with epic views of the Grand Harbour

Have any questions?

Wondering about something? If it's not in sight or a bit fuzzy don't hesitate! Email us at [email protected]

Book a Private Tour of this tour instead

Prefer a PRIVATE adventure of this tour? Easy - Click the 'Book this tour as a Private Tour' below to view our prices , contact us with your preferred date and anything else to help us prepare your adventure :)

We’re proud to receive awesome client reviews

You wont find a better guide, to bring the history of Malta to life. His passion, knowledge and delivery really made our tour of Valetta special and memorable. Right from the initial contact, his communication was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our interactions with him over email and in person. Giacomo also gave us many ideas and suggestions about how to make the most of our week in Malta including places to visit and restaurant recommendations, which we really appreciated. His care and consideration was superb.

The best tour in Valletta!!!! Giacomo is such a wonderful guide! Prepare for a full immersion, as he's taking you on board! We learned so much during this tour, and we now view several buildings of Valletta under a different light! I had no idea of the history of Valletta under the Knights and Corsairs and not only Giacomo made the tour really informative but also memorable and interesting. Jokes were on point and his good mood was contagious. Such a perfect tour! We enjoyed it a lot, so much that now we want to treat ourselves with the tour of Mdina! Thank you Giacomo for your professionalism and the messages before and after the tour, it feels really nice and the experience is full! Till we meet again! Céline

A «dark», historic walk through the beautiful streets of Valletta. Giacomo Muscat guided us vividly through the «dark» streets of Valletta. The theme of our tour was «The Sinful secrets of Valletta – Blood, Booty and Courtesans» and that’s exactly the story Giacomo gave us through his acting and storytelling. We could almost see, smell, feel and hear the knights, corsairs, slaves, pirates, poor, priests, nuns and a few «ordinary» people back in time. Thank you for an amazing night, Giacomo. This is an event not to miss!

Best experience of my 2024. The Valletta Sinful Secrets tour exceeded my expectations , I've travelled and done my share of tours, but this was like my top highlight to day! Our guide (Giacomo) is exceptional from initial communication and meeting him, we knew we were in for a treat, he's warm, friendly and knows his stuff. We also had many a good laughs along the way. What fun it was seeing the capital from his themed perspective. Loved it! Seriously you should charge enough more for the value of this wonderful experience ! Thank you for this treasure of a tour! Best. .Jo Nelson

Mdina walking tour with a difference. We booked the Malta themed tour to Mdina. This promised to be a thrilling and enjoyable tour. Well, it superceded my expectations a 100 times over. The narrator Giacomo Muscat aka Mikele the Corsair, was funny, knowledgeable, full of enthusiasm and involved those present by learning their names and asking them to participate, to contribute their views and opinions about what would next. It was the best 2.5 hours walking tour we've ever attended. The drama, the secret, and the mystery of the tales/historical events unfolded as we strolled the dark and winding streets of Mdina.

This whole experience was fantastic, from the very funny back and forth emails with Giacomo when booking from England before we went (thanks also for the many helpful tips for things to do and see on the Maltese islands, many of which we ended up doing), to the evening itself with the simply brilliant Chris as the Corsair. Extremely educational and delivered with infectious enthusiasm. Puts everything in a much wider context; this isn't the conventional 'pantomime' piracy of eye patches, pieces of eight and parrots, but more about profiteering as a mutually advantageous political discourse to both defend the Grand Harbour and contribute to the coffers of the Knights of St John. As my daughter says below, don't miss it, there's nothing else like it.

Greatly recommend. Very happy that I found them. The best corsair in the Mediterranean. Firstly, I am extremely grateful for the time Giacomo and Chris spent with me on trying to understand our needs and desires, working on setting up a nice tour to fit the budget and everyone's needs as we had 7 year old with us as well. Secondly, consideration and patience, also involving our kid (later we found out that Chris is also a teacher) and fitting into our schedule. Lastly, thank you for your personal untraditional point of view and interpretation, it was really refreshing.

We were on a cruise and stopped in Malta. I arranged a tour with Chris who was exceptional. He customized our tour according to our time and requests. He was friendly and kind and extremely knowledgeable. We enjoyed our time with him and loved the tour of Malta. I would highly recommend him!

I visited Malta with my adult son, who is, usually, not fond of guided tours, so I tried to find something exceptional to get him interested, and - yes! - this corsair tour was absolutely brilliant! We were lucky to have it all for ourselves - as it happen no other guests booked the tour on the same evening. The only disadvantage was the noise - streets of Valletta is overcrowded in the evening, and sometimes our points of interest were surrounded with loud music and noisy people, but in general it was very good anyway. We both highly recommend it!

My husband booked this walking tour as part of our wedding anniversary stop over in Valletta. We have stopped in Valletta a couple of times but we learnt so much about places we have walked past previously, on this 2 hour tour with Chris aka Shandru.
We were the only people doing the tour on this rainy evening but the guide still put lots into the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Corsairs in Malta and its not a long walk so is suitable for all ages. Think my grandchildren would love some of the stories and being shown around by a real life Corsair (legal pirate).